Technical Writing

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report!

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
And your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash,
Then your situation's hopeless, and your system's gonna crash!

You can't say this?
What a shame sir!
We'll find you
Another game sir.

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,
That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss
So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,
Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,
'Cause as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk,
And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risc,
Then you have to flash your memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM.
Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your mom!

This is an extract of a poem written in 1995 by Gene Ziegler.

Are you looking to begin a career in writing but aren't sure what part of the writing industry suits your skills best? You've certainly noticed many job listings for technical writing positions but don't really know what technical writing is and aren't sure exactly what is involved. In fact, you can't even be sure if you have the qualifications such a position calls for because you are completely unfamiliar with the idea of technical writing.

When you consider it, technical writing as a term is fairly self explanatory. Technical writing is the use of basic technical knowledge of a product or service and understanding of the terminology and language associated with that particular industry utilized to provide documentation on all aspects of the product or service. Usually, it is grouped into the marketing department of a company, since it is involved in much of the literature provided to both consumers and professionals who install, setup, and maintain whatever product is in question. However, other areas of marketing are geared toward promoting a product for sale, while the technical writing department is focused on factual information only, providing information on the inner workings of the device, as well as troubleshooting material.

You've been performing job searches for writing positions and found that there are thousands of positions available for technical writing experts. While it took you awhile to determine if you were actually qualified for such a position, you've learned that technical writing doesn't involve intimate knowledge of the products about which you'd be writing and is a position in which general knowledge of the industry into which the product applies is more necessary. Based on this assessment, you feel that technical writing may be something in which you are interested. However, before you delve into the task of rewriting your resume to apply for the technical writing positions you've found that you might be suited to, you need to satisfy your curiosity regarding what fields actually require individuals skilled at technical writing.

In all honesty, you'll be amazed at the number of industries that offer opportunities for technical writing positions. Almost any company that manufactures a product and some that provide services require an entire technical writing department for the company's use. Think about the products you purchase, especially electronics and other merchandise that comes with installation instructions or guides. All the packaged manuals and brochures you find in software, hardware, electronics, and products that require assembly are written and formatted in a technical writing department supported by the product brand.

In many industries, technical writing personnel are also charged with the provision of important internal documentation. For example, in telecom, lighting, computer, IT, and other such industries, technical writing departments will build documents for internal troubleshooting work, as well as for technical assistance hotline use. Some of these documents are hundreds and even thousands of pages long, aiding technicians in walking end users through tedious installation and repair work. These guides will often include additional information that is not provided to the public.

The term "technical writing" speaks to the industries in which positions in the market are most commonly found. Most technical and technology products provided for both business and consumer use requires a technical writing department to provide important documentation that includes details on the usage of those products. As a writer, if you have expertise in any of these areas, you could potentially find a technical writing position suitable to your experience.

Technical writing can involve producing white papers, installation instructions, troubleshooting guides, wiring information, and other detailed documents involving the functionality and usage of a particular product. While it is not usually necessary for a technical writer to be familiar with every aspect of a product or device in order to prepare such documentation, technical writing requires that you be able to decipher and make use of the terms that arise in the application of the product or service on a daily basis within that industry. This means having a concept of the entire industry in which the product is marketed.

For example, if you are a technical writer in the telecom industry, you should be familiar with the usage of terms like "switch" and "server" in relation to the products provided by the company you work for, as well as maintain comprehension of several acronyms that you would use on a daily basis in your technical writing, including abbreviations like CDMA and NTSC. Technical writing is a great field to enter, if you have any kind of intimate knowledge of technical and technological industries.

Often technical writing is either misunderstood or just not understood at all. The field is someone below the radar because, while it is important in my businesses and industries, technical writing is very much behind the scenes. However, to have a successful product or service, you must have a technical writing department to produce documentation for the various offers by the company. What sort of topics do technical writing departments cover, and in what capacity are they used?

First of all, the technical writing department is often grouped with the marketing department, though the goals of these two areas are quite different. In the marketing department, individuals aim to produce ads and copies that will sell or "market" a product, making consumers want to purchase or use that product. However, technical writing is much different. In the technical writing department, the goal is to support a product. Most of the documentation put out by the technical writing department is utilized post-sale to support the product for consumers.

What sort of documents does this include? Think about the products you purchase every day, especially furniture, electronics, and electrical equipment. In these products, you'll find assembly directions, installation instructions, and troubleshooting information. These documents are all written and formatted by individuals in a technical writing department employed by the company that manufactures the product. In fact, the format of the instructions and their easy to follow layout is almost as important as the wording and simplicity of the instructions themselves, and the technical writing department focuses on this aspect of document production.

Other materials produced by the technical writing department include white pages (explanations of the actual functionality and application of a device that may persuade consumers of the factual need for the product as opposed to the subjective materials produced by marketing departments), full specifications for a product, wiring information, and technical blurbs for popular websites and magazines that detail the specifications of the product.

Obviously, an individual becoming involved in the technical writing industry will never be at a loss for work. These positions are full of interesting items to keep aspiring writers busy at all times, making sure that technical writing experts are never bored. The variety of documents produced is enough to make the job appealing.